European Rail Research Advisory Council

HC Deb 08 January 2002 vol 377 cc606-7W

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on UK involvement in the European Rail Research Advisory Council. [24123]

Mr. Jamieson

The European Commission has established the European Rail Research Advisory Council to improve synergy between European Union national and private rail research, to serve better society's needs, to lead to sustainable transport and to strengthen the competitive leadership of the European rail industry. The first meeting of the council was held in Cologne on 26 November 2001. The United Kingdom's designated member is the Technical Director of the Strategic Rail Authority. In addition, Roger Goodall, Professor of Control Systems, Loughborough University has been nominated as one of the two Council members from academia.